I do not love buying gifts. That’s an understatement. Shopping for others brings on a feeling of creeping paralysis that is quite unsettling. Department stores are the worst. It seems that the greater the selection, the scarcer the sales clerks. My challenge is to find and buy something before I am compelled to flee lest I turn to stone.

Buying gifts for grandchildren is no easier than for adults (I don’t count books as gifts). I am happier now that my grandchildren are getting older and have strong opinions on what they want for Hannukah. The other day, as per my request, my oldest Toronto granddaughter — now 10 — emailed me a list of what she and her two sisters wanted, with links directly to the products thoughtfully provided (not even close to the settled limit I had given her, for which they got brownie points). In mere moments I had purchased the designated Batman costume and the American Girl make-up kit, and sent them on their way. O brave new shopping world that was made for lazy and unimaginative souls like me.

It doesn’t seem right to have gifts delivered to my grandchildren here in Montreal, though. Luckily, my Montreal six-year old, Noa, who is all about feminine charm, princesses and sparkly self-enhancement, announced she had finally gotten permission to have her ears pierced. So this year’s Hannukah gift was a no-brainer. I told her that I would accompany her and her mother to the ear-piercing ceremony and then on to The Bay for her first pair of real earrings. This offer was accepted with genuine excitement. Since Noa would be doing the choosing and my daughter the driving (I also suffer from parking-availability anxiety), I felt none of my customary dread as the big shopping day approached.

The piercee is attended by two piercers at the same time, so both the excruciating anticipation of the pain and the pain itself are halved.

Ear-piercing is a serious rite of passage for girls. In the old days, you just dropped in to a jewellery store in the mall. Whoever was available pierced one ear and then the other. Tears of pain and then relief rolled down your face, and off you went with a bottle of peroxide for twice-daily cleaning. It’s a far more sophisticated operation these days, at least in my daughter’s circle. My daughter booked a session well ahead at an upscale tattoo parlour called Adrenaline. There, I was informed, the piercee is attended by two piercers at the same time, so both the excruciating anticipation of the pain and the pain itself are halved.

I had never been in a tattoo parlour before. There were many interesting and colourful artefacts on display at Adrenaline, none of which would appear on my living person even if Hell did in fact freeze over, either because they were articles of clothing sporting seriously rude words, or because they were funkily decorated shoes with heels longer than my tibia, or because they were jewellery made to root in or dangle from parts of one’s body that are not one’s ear lobe.

Having arrived early, we settled ourselves in the waiting area and amused ourselves by riffling through the many samples of tattoo art on display. One binder featured a naked woman completely covered in garish tattoos. Shaking her head, lips pursed, Noa confided, “This is inappropriate.” “Indeed it is,” I agreed, and removed it from our presence. We then discovered a binder dedicated to flower and butterfly tattoos, which we both found more to our taste.

One could see that she felt herself quite transformed by the sparkly minuscule studs

The piercing went pretty well, although not with the perfect simultaneity we’d expected. Still, Noa was quite brave, only crying for a few seconds, and taking rapid comfort from an immediately proffered lollipop. After so many weeks and months dreaming of this watershed event, one could see that she felt herself quite transformed by the sparkly minuscule studs. It was a sweet moment, and yet a strange place, emanating strong sexual vibes from every corner, for such exquisite innocence to shine.

The “real” earrings Noa chose from the serried racks at The Bay — tiny flowers — were a joy to buy and give. Let us hope that when she is 13, Noa does not ask to return to Adrenaline for a Hannukah present that I still consider “inappropriate.” Rather than comply, I would shop for something more befitting a granddaughter of mine until I turned to stone at The Bay.

Know what I want for Christmas? Nothing. You heard right. Nothing. If I needed it, I already have it. If I wanted it, I’ve already lavished it upon my deserving self.

I don’t want much stuff anymore and the stuff I really want — real estate, bearer bonds, fabled gemstones — nobody seems willing to buy me. Skinflints! So, unless you’re willing to part with some serious coin, skip tucking something with my name on it under the tree.

Unless you’ve torn a page from O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, I’d suggest forbearance and not the pastel, polar fleece mittens. You’ll only alienate me further. I want a gift from the heart or from the treasury. The rest is just retail rubble.

I’ve been put off gifts. Oftentimes, they’re nothing but a disposal problem. The very idea of manufacturing delight is a bit suspect. You, the gift giver, conjure what I’d like and then you estimate what size or colour I might want it in. This is a flawed model. If you can’t deduce where I keep my lipsticks — top middle drawer in the master bathroom — there’s no way I want you picking out chandelier earrings for me. You know nothing about me. If, that I like muscular reds like Amarone, but lissome floral fragrances has escaped you, please don’t show up with a reedy pinot grigio or a flacon of Heat, by Beyoncé. You’ll only make me feel that I walk this world alone. I’d probably swill the Beyoncé perfume and dab the pinot behind my ears. Yes, if a gift makes the recipient feel unfathomed and obscure, well, then you’ve screwed up royally, my friend.

T’was a time I wasn’t so jaded. I recall the Christmas gift of my first boyfriend. It was a sweater. He had seen me swooning at the mall over a sleek merino wool black turtleneck. I unwrapped something angora. Buttercup yellow. My heart sank when I knew I was going to have to wear it. But he had chosen it. It’s purpose was to gladden my heart and make me rejoice in the spirit of the holiday season … well that, and weaken my resolve to remain a good girl. And so I wore it … and with a smile on my face. Major fail for him, however, as his gift only disqualified him for further horizontal considerations.

Years pass. My husband hands me Christmas gift. He can hardly wait for me to unwrap it. Given his unbridled anticipation, I am pr-e-tty certain it’s the emerald necklace he knows I’ve been dreaming of. He’s beside himself with excitement. Open it! Open it!

I open it. It’s a holster. Nothing green in sight. Just Gortex. He can hardly wait to tell me the story: He walks into the sporting goods store in the Italian district in Vancouver. A voice pipes up from a clutch of men watching televised soccer. “What can I do for you?” I’m looking for a holster. For yourself? Naw … it’s for the wife; she likes to keep her hands free while she’s cooking.

He loves this story. I nod along: yes, yes, so funny. I now have a holster. No emeralds, but something for carrying my air pistol. We have acreage; I like to shoot at targets. At that moment, I was thinking he’d make a very good one.

It beats the videos tapes of two hours of continuous NASCAR wrecks that I also got that year. Hil-arious! And no: It only makes it worse when you say, “It’s the thought that counts.”

In fairness, my ex used to write me a poem every Christmas and those I still cherish.

Every Christmas, my mom used to joke that all she wanted was a couple of sacks of steer manure for her garden. My dad — dutifully and unimaginatively — used to get her a couple of sacks of steer manure. Her garden flourished, but the joie that had spawned their blessed union suffered due to an acute lack of the basic understanding of the human heart. Everyone wants to feel singular and known by someone. Soil enhancement has its benefits, but feeling understood and appreciated needs a fertilizer of a different sort.

Related

At a minimum, there are two opportunities in every calendar year to make someone feel special: birthdays and whatever it is you celebrate at the coldest point in our year. If you screw this up, you deserve to die alone and unloved. By misperceiving the nature of the thoughtful gift, you’re abandoning ship. Kids, without any guidance whatsoever, give great gifts. Those macaroni necklaces and dime store treasures are so imbued with inspiration and aspiration, you can’t help but love them. At the back of my lingerie drawer I still have the resin turtle that my seven-year-old son bought for me with “his own money.” A couple of times a year I still wear the “aquamarine” necklace he bought for me, even though the “sterling” has worn away; whaddya expect for $5? He recognized that I liked turtles and that I was a sucker for a particular shade of blue. I have a sequined purse my daughter bought for me more than a decade ago just because I’d exclaimed about the colour. I’ve never used it, but keep it just the same.

Oh, a good gift does the heart a world of good. A bad gift, however, is a drop of lemon in the milk. If we’re going to make the season about giving and getting, let’s try to get it right. As for me, all large diamonds — fabled or cursed — are welcomed. Failing that, a killer macaroni necklace … or nothing at all.

]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/life/jane-macdougall-give-and-let-die-a-real-guide-to-getting-gifts-right-this-year/feed/0stdgiftsJane Macdougall: Please, think before you give this Christmas, because here’s what happens when you don’thttp://news.nationalpost.com/life/jane-macdougall-please-think-before-you-give-this-christmas-because-heres-what-happens-when-you-dont-2
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The best museums inspire, educate and enlighten in equal measure, and I humbly posit that The Jane Macdougall Museum of Incredibly Undesirable Gifts does all this and more. At Christmas time, there would be lineups.

Here’s a quick overview of the contents of my museum. And no, we are not taking material donations at this time.

Just as when you walk into the Louvre you see the Winged Victory of Samothrace commanding a giant staircase, I would have something grand and imposing at the entrance of my museum. In my case, it would be the stuffed male peacock on a giant piece of driftwood that a relative gave me for Christmas some years ago. It had the full, sweeping tail for which peacocks are so deservedly famous. It took up more room in a home than a fully extended La-Z-Boy recliner or a corpse. I distinctly recall being aghast when I received it. I was a new bride. New brides tend to be a little fussy about decor. They have yet to discover that there is no wallpaper that “goes” with the hockey bags and backpacks in the foyer. Outside of being a nice reminder of how pretty peacocks are, this gift had no good purpose other than alarming the cat. It was a foregone conclusion that it would be donated to the museum. A lesser note in my museum would be the subsequent gift that the same person gave me the following Christmas: a stuffed ring-necked pheasant, once again perched upon a hunk of wood. The phrase “ring neck” resonated with me each time I saw that relative.

Art is always such a welcomed gift. I have received lots of art as gifts. Much of my philanthropy is based upon giving away the art I have received as gifts. Some pieces, however, have found no takers, which is why I had to start my museum.

Which of my collection should I describe for you now? A particular favourite of mine is the giant, door-sized, monochromatic silk screen of a tugboat. I remember thinking, “Why this isn’t obtrusive whatsoever!” I searched the house over and found no eight-foot by four-foot unused wall space. Except in the garage. Behind the garbage cans. It would have pride of place in my museum. People would buy postcards of it. Ironically.

The nice thing about seed art is that rats like it

You’d be hard pressed, however, to compete with the seed painting of our home that was proudly presented to me. Seed painting? Let me explain. There are a wide variety of seeds in the world. Imagine using them — and glue — instead of paint to render an image. The sort of person who does this sort of art is not stiffly constrained by the usual conventions of art, so the formalities of foreshortening, vanishing points and scale are dispensed with. It’s more about glue gun skill. The nice thing about seed art is, however, that as much as you might like it, rats like it more. Problem solved.

I’d have a wing exclusively for objet. The centrepiece of the collection would be the toilet ice bucket. If you’re seeking to impress, a plastic ice bucket toilet sets the bar.

I could showcase the fake designer purse brought back, circa 1985, as a gift from China, that reads: DOIR. Yes, as in Christain Doir

Again, a gift from one of my then-husband’s friends; a sophisticated lot. (Note to self: see about having these manufactured in miniature as key chain fobs to sell in gift store.) But I can’t pin all the blame on his side of the family. My very own aunt presented me with a commemorative tea towel each Christmas from as early an age as 10. Stonehenge; The Lake District in Cumbria, Edinburgh Castle: she favoured fabled landmarks of the British Isles. My linen tea towel collection was the envy of all the other pre-pubescent girls at my school.

In a special gallery I’d call Really?, I could showcase the fake designer purse brought back, circa 1985, as a gift from China, that reads: DOIR. Yes, as in Christain Doir. How about the espadrilles that a boyfriend brought back from Ibiza that turn feet a shade of blue reminiscent of the Mediterranean? Or the gift of lingerie that gave rise to the discovery that contacts — his — and feathers were incompatible. And let’s not forget bath products: bath bombs, lotions of all descriptions and a Baskin Robbins’ array of smelly stuff to marinate in. Excessively packaged environmental toxins: These should be displayed alongside the blood diamonds, or perhaps with the array of ill-advised kitchen gadgets for simpletons, many of which are still in their original packaging!

I’m going to need help with this museum. I’m thinking that docents might be in order, and they will require uniforms. The women will be able to choose from my collection of ugly festive sweaters gifts: cats playing with Christmas ornaments; grim-faced Nutcrackers unfortunately rendered in cashmere; all 12 days of Christmas in a cotton knit, or perhaps, just argyle V necks in jarring colour combinations. The men can wear any number of ties. I’m a bad tie-picker-out-er. I admit it.

So, there you have it: The Museum of Incredibly Undesirable Gifts. I’d like to tell you more, but I have to get down to the loading dock. We’re expecting more inventory sometime next week!

]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/life/jane-macdougall-please-think-before-you-give-this-christmas-because-heres-what-happens-when-you-dont-2/feed/0stdpresentJane Macdougall: Please, think before you give this Christmas, because here’s what happens when you don’thttp://news.nationalpost.com/life/jane-macdougall-please-think-before-you-give-this-christmas-because-heres-what-happens-when-you-dont
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The best museums inspire, educate and enlighten in equal measure, and I humbly posit that The Jane Macdougall Museum of Incredibly Undesirable Gifts does all this and more. At Christmas time, there would be lineups.

Here’s a quick overview of the contents of my museum. And no, we are not taking material donations at this time.

Just as when you walk into the Louvre you see the Winged Victory of Samothrace commanding a giant staircase, I would have something grand and imposing at the entrance of my museum. In my case, it would be the stuffed male peacock on a giant piece of driftwood that a relative gave me for Christmas some years ago. It had the full, sweeping tail for which peacocks are so deservedly famous. It took up more room in a home than a fully extended La-Z-Boy recliner or a corpse. I distinctly recall being aghast when I received it. I was a new bride. New brides tend to be a little fussy about decor. They have yet to discover that there is no wallpaper that “goes” with the hockey bags and backpacks in the foyer. Outside of being a nice reminder of how pretty peacocks are, this gift had no good purpose other than alarming the cat. It was a foregone conclusion that it would be donated to the museum. A lesser note in my museum would be the subsequent gift that the same person gave me the following Christmas: a stuffed ring-necked pheasant, once again perched upon a hunk of wood. The phrase “ring neck” resonated with me each time I saw that relative.

Art is always such a welcomed gift. I have received lots of art as gifts. Much of my philanthropy is based upon giving away the art I have received as gifts. Some pieces, however, have found no takers, which is why I had to start my museum.

Which of my collection should I describe for you now? A particular favourite of mine is the giant, door-sized, monochromatic silk screen of a tugboat. I remember thinking, “Why this isn’t obtrusive whatsoever!” I searched the house over and found no eight-foot by four-foot unused wall space. Except in the garage. Behind the garbage cans. It would have pride of place in my museum. People would buy postcards of it. Ironically.

The nice thing about seed art is that rats like it

You’d be hard pressed, however, to compete with the seed painting of our home that was proudly presented to me. Seed painting? Let me explain. There are a wide variety of seeds in the world. Imagine using them — and glue — instead of paint to render an image. The sort of person who does this sort of art is not stiffly constrained by the usual conventions of art, so the formalities of foreshortening, vanishing points and scale are dispensed with. It’s more about glue gun skill. The nice thing about seed art is, however, that as much as you might like it, rats like it more. Problem solved.

I’d have a wing exclusively for objet. The centrepiece of the collection would be the toilet ice bucket. If you’re seeking to impress, a plastic ice bucket toilet sets the bar.

I could showcase the fake designer purse brought back, circa 1985, as a gift from China, that reads: DOIR. Yes, as in Christain Doir

Again, a gift from one of my then-husband’s friends; a sophisticated lot. (Note to self: see about having these manufactured in miniature as key chain fobs to sell in gift store.) But I can’t pin all the blame on his side of the family. My very own aunt presented me with a commemorative tea towel each Christmas from as early an age as 10. Stonehenge; The Lake District in Cumbria, Edinburgh Castle: she favoured fabled landmarks of the British Isles. My linen tea towel collection was the envy of all the other pre-pubescent girls at my school.

In a special gallery I’d call Really?, I could showcase the fake designer purse brought back, circa 1985, as a gift from China, that reads: DOIR. Yes, as in Christain Doir. How about the espadrilles that a boyfriend brought back from Ibiza that turn feet a shade of blue reminiscent of the Mediterranean? Or the gift of lingerie that gave rise to the discovery that contacts — his — and feathers were incompatible. And let’s not forget bath products: bath bombs, lotions of all descriptions and a Baskin Robbins’ array of smelly stuff to marinate in. Excessively packaged environmental toxins: These should be displayed alongside the blood diamonds, or perhaps with the array of ill-advised kitchen gadgets for simpletons, many of which are still in their original packaging!

I’m going to need help with this museum. I’m thinking that docents might be in order, and they will require uniforms. The women will be able to choose from my collection of ugly festive sweaters gifts: cats playing with Christmas ornaments; grim-faced Nutcrackers unfortunately rendered in cashmere; all 12 days of Christmas in a cotton knit, or perhaps, just argyle V necks in jarring colour combinations. The men can wear any number of ties. I’m a bad tie-picker-out-er. I admit it.

So, there you have it: The Museum of Incredibly Undesirable Gifts. I’d like to tell you more, but I have to get down to the loading dock. We’re expecting more inventory sometime next week!

It’s that season again for gift giving and celebrations. For those who appreciate spirited gifts, liquor stores across Canada have stocked their shelves with gift packs and festive spirits. Canada’s newly minted small batch distilleries also have offerings ready wrapped. So here goes with some recommendations for those loved ones and friends with a taste for fine bottled pleasure.

In Ontario the LCBO’s Give Cheer promotion offers across the province a vast array of items including 180 gift packs. Their interactive gift finder www.lcboholiday.com is a useful tool for ideas. The BC Liquor Stores have 185 spirits on a limited time offer discount until December 28. www.bcliquorstores.com. Those in Quebec can check out the SAQ’s Cocktail page to add punch and pop to holiday celebrations.

Whiskies, brandy (especially Cognac) and liqueurs are some of the most seasonal products and for example experience in Ontario about 23 per cent of sales during the holiday period. Some categories show even more seasonality such as XO Cognac with 40 per cent of annual sales in November and December in Ontario. In this category I highly recommend Hine Homage Grand Cru, Rémy Martin XO and De Luze XO. Less pricey but equally impressive on the palate are Armagnacs such as Larressingle XO and De Montal 20 Year Old Vintage.

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy some of the seasonal liqueurs released this Christmas. Kahlúa Gingerbread is a mix of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla with rum and coffee liqueur that gives winter flavours to a martini. Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha makes a hot chocolate or evening coffee a very festive affair.

Criollo, a premium chocolate liqueur made from the rare Criollo cocoa bean, was conceived of in Canada by two women managers at Corby Distillers to appeal to the younger female palate. Criollo Chocolate Raspberry Truffle is indeed reminiscent of a cocoa dusted raspberry flavoured truffle. Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel is sweet and syrupy at first and then the salt and buttery caramel kick in followed by a subtle chocolate finish.

For chocoholics, 360 Double Chocolate delivers the taste of milk and dark chocolate in a smooth, creamy vodka base.

Jack Daniel Distillery has launched a seasonal punch, Winter Jack, that’s whisky mixed with apple, cinnamon and clove. At just 15 percent alcohol its quite sweet and easy delivery is more for the non-whisky drinker’s pleasure.

Those with a taste for strong spirits with personality will surely enjoy the line up offered by Distell Spirits via agent PMA. Three Ships Whisky has an unusual provenance from South Africa and a robust nature. Master distiller Ian MacMillan delivers elegance and power with Deanston Virgin Oak Malt Whisky.

A terrific value at $39.95 is the El Dorado gift pack of El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum packaged with two rum snifters. The rich, full, toffee, molasses flavours of this rum are perfect for sipping by the fireplace, matched with Christmas cake or cookies.

In the white spirits Pisco Soldeica from Peru is a distillation of fresh fermented quebranta grape juice that’s delicate and refined. Crystal Head has a special Rolling Stones Gift Pack for $99.95.

For those who want to give a Canada inspired gift, Ungava Canadian Premium Gin made by Domaine Pinnacle from indigenous Canadian botanicals of the arctic is amazing. Proof Luxury spirits packaged in a unique 500mL bottle are made using pristine Canadian Rocky mountain spring water and bottled at 42% for that extra edge. The Proof Whisky made from rye and wheat is intriguingly spiced. Liberty Distillery which opened its doors on Granville Island this November has launched with Truth Vodka and Railspur No. 1 White (unaged whisky). Their gin and aged whisky are coming soon. For the moment you’ll have to go to the distillery’s on-site retail store on Granville Island to buy.

Editors Note: You can find Margaret Swaine’s complete reviews by clicking on any of the names, bottle images or links highlighted. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critics reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great spirits!

It’s that season again for gift giving and celebrations. For those who appreciate spirited gifts, liquor stores across Canada have stocked their shelves with gift packs and festive spirits. Canada’s newly minted small batch distilleries also have offerings ready wrapped. So here goes with some recommendations for those loved ones and friends with a taste for fine bottled pleasure.

In Ontario the LCBO’s Give Cheer promotion offers across the province a vast array of items including 180 gift packs. Their interactive gift finder www.lcboholiday.com is a useful tool for ideas. The BC Liquor Stores have 185 spirits on a limited time offer discount until December 28. www.bcliquorstores.com. Those in Quebec can check out the SAQ’s Cocktail page to add punch and pop to holiday celebrations.

Whiskies, brandy (especially Cognac) and liqueurs are some of the most seasonal products and for example experience in Ontario about 23 per cent of sales during the holiday period. Some categories show even more seasonality such as XO Cognac with 40 per cent of annual sales in November and December in Ontario. In this category I highly recommend Hine Homage Grand Cru, Rémy Martin XO and De Luze XO. Less pricey but equally impressive on the palate are Armagnacs such as Larressingle XO and De Montal 20 Year Old Vintage.

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy some of the seasonal liqueurs released this Christmas. Kahlúa Gingerbread is a mix of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla with rum and coffee liqueur that gives winter flavours to a martini. Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha makes a hot chocolate or evening coffee a very festive affair.

Criollo, a premium chocolate liqueur made from the rare Criollo cocoa bean, was conceived of in Canada by two women managers at Corby Distillers to appeal to the younger female palate. Criollo Chocolate Raspberry Truffle is indeed reminiscent of a cocoa dusted raspberry flavoured truffle. Criollo Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel is sweet and syrupy at first and then the salt and buttery caramel kick in followed by a subtle chocolate finish.

For chocoholics, 360 Double Chocolate delivers the taste of milk and dark chocolate in a smooth, creamy vodka base.

Jack Daniel Distillery has launched a seasonal punch, Winter Jack, that’s whisky mixed with apple, cinnamon and clove. At just 15 percent alcohol its quite sweet and easy delivery is more for the non-whisky drinker’s pleasure.

Those with a taste for strong spirits with personality will surely enjoy the line up offered by Distell Spirits via agent PMA. Three Ships Whisky has an unusual provenance from South Africa and a robust nature. Master distiller Ian MacMillan delivers elegance and power with Deanston Virgin Oak Malt Whisky.

A terrific value at $39.95 is the El Dorado gift pack of El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum packaged with two rum snifters. The rich, full, toffee, molasses flavours of this rum are perfect for sipping by the fireplace, matched with Christmas cake or cookies.

In the white spirits Pisco Soldeica from Peru is a distillation of fresh fermented quebranta grape juice that’s delicate and refined. Crystal Head has a special Rolling Stones Gift Pack for $99.95.

For those who want to give a Canada inspired gift, Ungava Canadian Premium Gin made by Domaine Pinnacle from indigenous Canadian botanicals of the arctic is amazing. Proof Luxury spirits packaged in a unique 500mL bottle are made using pristine Canadian Rocky mountain spring water and bottled at 42% for that extra edge. The Proof Whisky made from rye and wheat is intriguingly spiced. Liberty Distillery which opened its doors on Granville Island this November has launched with Truth Vodka and Railspur No. 1 White (unaged whisky). Their gin and aged whisky are coming soon. For the moment you’ll have to go to the distillery’s on-site retail store on Granville Island to buy.

Editors Note: You can find Margaret Swaine’s complete reviews by clicking on any of the names, bottle images or links highlighted. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critics reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great spirits!

I’d know this even without a calendar. For the past couple of weeks sheaves of colourful Mother’s Day flyers have been deposited at my doorstep each morning. Apparently, the thing Mom wants most is perfume. As gifts go, perfume is not a bad choice: small and consumable — what’s not to like?

I have a bit of a weak spot for scent. It’s a happy consequence of a part-time job I held all the way through university. Some combination of Thursday and Friday nights, plus Saturdays and Sundays, would find me behind the French Perfume counter at Eaton’s department store at Pacific Centre. I could have just as well ended up in Sporting Goods or Small Appliances, but I was assigned to the cul-de-sac of fragrances positioned near the front of the store. At the time, I thought perfume was idiotic. I’d had one bottle of perfume in my life and a little later in this column, I’ll tell you about how it worked its magic for me.

A woman named Olive ran the section. She had old-world manners and took the subject of fragrance very seriously

There was a woman named Olive who ran the section. She had old-world manners and took the subject of fragrance very seriously, indeed. She had customers she knew by name. She remembered what their wives wore. She knew what qualified as an appropriate selection for a secretary. She would set me to gift-wrapping their selections; gift-wrapping was customary and free. She told me to encourage customers to layer their fragrances. That meant cologne under eau de toilette topped off with perfume. Fragranced bath oils and lotions, in her canon, were essential. She was more refined than I would ever hope to be. My failure to grasp the exigency of fragrance layering caused her mild discomfit. I was keenly aware that I was destined to be a bit of failure as a woman; I thought even the cheapest cologne was an indefensible expense. The most salient aspect within the equation, however, had escaped me: Olive was on commission; I wasn’t. If there was a fragrance that offered a mouthwash, she’d have found the hyperbole to make that, too, seem like a necessity of civilization.

Olive could talk a male customer into anything. He would depart the French Perfume section feeling that his judgment was inviolable and his taste, discerning.

Ah, the Shalimar! An excellent choice. A classic, you know.

Now, you’ll be wanting the boxed triple soaps — much more economical — as well as the floor polish and insect repellent. Yes, an excellent choice.

One Christmas, I received a half-dozen small bottles of Joy perfume. I’d been flogging the stuff all season and the distributor had directed a batch of these oversized samples my way. At the time, Joy was advertised as being “the costliest perfume in the world.” All I can recall of it is that claim … and that it smelled like roses. I gave all the bottles away.

Today, I love perfume. Well, not perfume, exactly. I love my nose. I love to smell things. Flinging open the door at the end of a dispiriting day and inhaling the aroma of a roasting chicken is a reason to live.

The wind shifts, suddenly spring is in the air. Who can resist a walk around the park to breathe it all in? My nose loves a day at the beach: the salt air, inseparable from the scent of fish and chips. Lilacs, gardenias, honeysuckle: lots of good stuff out there, all free for the sniffing. Loving, as I do, the way things smell, I often improvise a perfume. I’ve been known to rub a little lemon on my wrists. A sprig of rosemary in a pillow case makes me dream of nights on Greek beaches with Greek gods.

I take a tip from one of the wives of the late Johnny Carson. He used to say that he loved the way she smelled; she always smelled like cookies. Her secret? She used to dab a touch of vanilla extract behind her ears.

A dab of vanilla is a far cry from the hundreds of celebrity fragrances now on the market. Michael Jordan, Prince, both Beckhams, Shania, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, Heidi Klum, the Olsen Twins, Fifty Cent, Queen Latifah — even Carlos Santana — each of them has at least one fragrance on the market. Antonio Banderas has at least six fragrances bearing his name. Six! What precisely is the bouquet implied in a fragrance named after Andy Roddick? One wonders what an eponymous fragrance by Jimmy Stewart would have smelled like? I figure oatmeal and Christmas trees. No eau de parfum or triple wicked candle, just cologne.

About my first bottle of perfume. It was a cast off from my mom and it was called Crepe de Chine

Now, about my first bottle of perfume. It was a cast off from my mom and it was called Crepe de Chine. I used to douse myself with it twice daily: in the morning before school, and then when I came home at lunch. One day, my math teacher — the class right after lunch — asked me to step into the hall. There, very earnestly, he asked me to please, please lay off the perfume.

If I were to have become internationally famous, I think I might have based my own fragrance on that exchange.

I would have called it Mortification, by Jane Macdougall.

Bath oil and car wax available at select locations. See if Olive will gift wrap it for you.

The federal government has developed a list of suggested gift values for presents offered to foreign dignitaries by or on behalf of ministers.

A copy of the list prepared for then-international development minister Bev Oda in September 2011 puts the suggested limit for gifts from Canadian ministers to foreign heads of state and heads of government at $800.

Foreign ministers can receive gifts worth up to $600, while other ministers as well as state governors and mayors can be given a gift worth up to $400.

The list goes on to suggest a $300 limit for senior bureaucrats like chiefs of security, as well as hotel managers, and finishes with a $50 limit for security staff, hotel employees, drivers and translators.

“The amounts mentioned above are approximate guidelines,” the note reads. “They may be higher or lower depending on the type and importance of the visit.”

Appropriate gifts include contemporary arts and crafts or items representative of Canadian culture

Foreign Affairs spokesman Ian Trites said the guidelines for gift values “are aimed at ensuring an element of consistency in the presentation of gifts to foreign dignitaries on behalf of the government.”

Government rules state that official gifts and mementoes are presented only on occasions where they further international relations, a foreign government hosts a Canadian minister, or a foreign visitor or delegation is hosted in Canada.

Heritage Canada operates a federal gift bank from which official gifts that are distinctly Canadian are drawn.

“Appropriate gifts include contemporary arts and crafts or items representative of Canadian culture, arts, and cultural products or Canadian manufacturing,” reads a Treasury Board of Canada website about the gift bank.

Other gifts not found in the gift bank are available, the website adds, but only as a last recourse and under exceptional circumstances.

While the maximum suggested value for official gifts may seem high to some Canadians, it’s unclear how often $800 or $600 presents are doled out to foreign officials.

For example, in advance of a visit to the United Nations in New York in September 2011, Ms. Oda’s office took out $622.79 worth of gifts.

The most expensive was a set of Birks sterling silver maple leaf cufflinks worth $157.25.

Two months later, $300.75 worth of gifts was returned to the gift bank.

The gifts that were given out included a silver-plated maple leaf business card case worth $80, a set of silver-plated maple leaf cufflinks worth $80.75, two wool scarves with maple leaves valued at $61.50 each, a maple leaf brooch worth $12.50 and a key chain worth $4.50.

The three-year-old Noor Boutique (at 76 Cumberland St, in the lower level below the Four Seasons, 416-928-0070; they ship across Canada) is, simply put, Toronto’s most comprehensive independent perfume purveyor. Noor carries, among other niche fragrances, the odiferous creations of Heeley, Santa Maria Novella, Cire Trudon, Comme des Garçons, Parfums DelRae, Diptyque, Eau d’Italie, Susanne Lang, Frapin and Nasomatto. For the very last-minute shopper, they’re stocked on charmingly packaged ready-to-go gift box sets from L’Artisan and Penhaligon’s and while fragrance enthusiast and co-owner Nahla Saad cautions that perfume can be a very personal gift, she narrowed down five suggestions for a few gift list archetypes.

For the Cocktail Culturisto
The new Juniper Sling by Penhaligon’s, $120 for 50ml
Inspired by London dry gin, master perfumer Olivier Cresp created this scent for the the historic 1860s British perfume house as an homage to the Bright Young Things of the city’s roaring 1920s. A bracing, aromatic cologne cocktail of juniper berry, bergamot, coriander seed orris root and angelica root with orange brandy and black pepper, “this is basically classic, good gin – like Bombay Sapphire – as a cologne,” Saad says.

Suggested pairing: Highball glasses with a bottle of Bombay or Hendrick’s.

For the True Blood Obsessive
AB by Blood Concept, $165 for 40ml pure parfum dropper
(Also appropriate for the all-grown-up Twilight fanatic.) the Italian company’s hematic scents based on human types are A, B, AB and O, and dispensed from mirrored dropper bottles. Despite the timely vampire pop-culture moment, Saad promises that they don’t suck. There’s an aldehydic element to the most popular of the quartet: AB: it has a bit of salt and hint of metallic (like aluminum shavings or wet pebbles), the hallmark of hematic odour. They call to mind, too, Angelina wearing Billy Bob’s blood in a vial around her neck.Weird, and not for the faint of heart.

Suggested pairing: A DVD of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, Nosferatu or Interview with the Vampire.

For the Pater Familias
Carthusia Uomo by Carthusia, $145 for 100ml
A scent that reminds them of Dad but that’s so much better than Old Spice or Brut, is how many describe this conservative cologne – and that’s who they’re snapping it up for, too. This understated woody-citrus offering from the niche Carthusia perfume house on Capri has marine and cedar notes that make it a typical masculine; it evoked a reliable protector in tweed, buried in the newspaper at his desk chair in a dusty book-filled den or library.

Suggested Pairing: A pair of velour lounge slippers.

For the Snowbird
Batucada, the latest fragrance from L’Artisan Parfumeur, $135 for 100ml
Named for the Brazilian samba style, this refreshing spritz evokes the scent of that country’s signature national cocktail, all zesty, refreshing crushed lime and cachaça (a sugar cane spirit). Co-perfumer Elisabeth Maier is Brazilian, and was inspired by the sparkling, vivacity of Rio, with coconut and salty floral notes for the evening carioca. “This is that I want to say smells like it reminds me of that song,” Saad suggest, “Let’s go somewhere warm for Christmas.”

For the Style Insider
Daphne by Comme des Garçons, $160 for 50ml
This explosive new tuberose collaboration between Comme des Garçons and eccentric heiress and socialite Daphne Guinness (whose extravagant, often haute couture wardrobe is currently on display at the Museum at FIT in New York until January 7, 2012). You’d think that Daphne, often described as a ‘nuclear’ tuberose with incense top notes, would come housed in some equally outlandish bottle, but you’d be thinking wrong. The stylemaker opted for a frankly almost quaintly retro oval bottle etched, simply, with her name. Only the red velvet pouch it nestles in belies the fact that what’s inside comes on as subtly as fireworks.

Welcome to 1+1, a new biweekly column by Kate Carraway aimed at deconstructing the dynamics of every possible type of relationship. From mothers and daughters to doctors and patients, we’ll make you think twice about how you treat friends, lovers and colleagues.

If there’s anything I actually believe — all the time and not just when it’s convenient — it’s that there are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers.

That’s not to say there aren’t shifting icebergs of nuance informing the degrees of pleasure of giving or getting, nor is it a judgment about who in the give-get relationship is good or bad. More than anything, the divide is a difference of impulse, with the line made up of thank-you notes sent or not sent, of opportunities to be cheap or generous. It’s about spending, sure, but mostly effort, a principle of what’s more valuable: to give it away, or to get it.

That divide is never more obvious than at Christmastime. While there are some gift exchanges in which equality is paramount — new couples intent on striking a balance of tone and money; secret office Santas with a $20 limit (though $5 is more fun) — often there is one person who is expected to do the primary buying and giving, and who is expected to do it right. More and more, gifts come bound up with an incredible, impossible number of demands and expectations.

When I tweeted a recent article by Penelope Green in The New York Times that reported getters are happiest to receive gifts they actually asked for — and thought a present from a list they’d provided demonstrated more thoughtfulness than something chosen especially for them — the response to the story was quick and brutal.

I have several friends who ask their boyfriends for phone and cable bills to be paid off, and I work from specific lists of size and colour when I shop for my family. I’ve also asked for cash from my parents — but never gift cards; what’s the point? — when the idea of a cushion for my already-inflated discretionary spending budget was more appealing than just-for-me clothes or books (a mistake, obviously).

Naturally, all of this is counter to what we think of as the spirit of Christmas, or whatever secular demi-Christmas is being celebrated this time of year. When the relationship between the giver and getter has gone so far south that we prefer a gift card to a carefully selected whatever-thing, there is cause to blame it on that persistent combination of a consumer culture, abandonment of basic etiquette, a bruised economy (in which small, specific luxuries are the most-wanted) and the spoiled, selfish teenagers-cum-adults that helicopter parenting has wrought.

There is also the more ephemeral matter of avoiding disappointment. More and more, our experiences of everything from travel to work to entertainment is curated specifically for us; receiving a gift that isn’t exactly right, that doesn’t make us feel “seen,” can be much worse than getting nothing at all.

On-demand giving also happens to be increasingly pragmatic for the givers. With less time and more access, those lists feel necessary. Growing up, I was instructed to make Christmas lists but was sternly reminded I would get whatever Santa deigned to bring me, and I would be happy about it. (However, because my birthday is in early January, it was likely that everything on that list would be mine before spring.)

I’d much rather get a kid something they truly want, instead of some optimistic garbage I presume they should want and might not have. The compromise, then, isn’t about the effect of a gift; instead, it’s about the element of surprise (does that matter?) and, more crucially, about the givers’ opportunity to demonstrate how much they know the getter, and how well they can predict someone else’s heart’s desire.

It could be that the giver isn’t getting lazier, and the getter isn’t rude: It could be that the risk of a bad gift is just too high.

Boutique Art.27 (at 899 Queen St. W., 416-504-3636) could easily be mistaken for an art gallery. Upscale European natural and wellness products perch, uncluttered and displayed like objets, on the thick white ledges that line the airy showroom-style boutique walls. The goal of owner Camelia Nicoara’s Trinity-Bellswoods bath, body and fragrance emporium is to bring chemical-free -and often, organic- European unguents to the city. Accordingly, Art.27 stocks hard to find brands such as Senteurs du Sud, Patyka from Paris, haute savonnerieCitizen Bio’s home fragrance sprays, soaps and candles, with mens products from Tadé, Zdonko and 6630.

Nicoara is anticipating a rush from last-minute shoppers this week, hence Art.27’s extended holiday hours (open nightly until 9pm daily all week, then until 4pm on Saturday December 24th). The avowed product junkie takes us through the shop’s top products.

Greatest Hit: The Tadé line’s set of guest soaps ($10 for 2, or 8 pieces of 10g soaps, $24). Citizen Bio’s scented ‘Citizen Bob’ vegetal art soaps ($22 for a pair or $44 for all four, pictured above) are carved into the shape of human skulls. All-natural and the winner of a 2011 Maison & Objet innovation award, they come in bronze (bitter orange), white (vetiver), pink (rose) and black (myrrh) and have been flying out the door for weeks.

Girfriend Gift: Absolis body oil by Patyka Paris in Precious Woods ($68 for 250ml) is the perfect bedtime companion. It’s lightly fragranced with tonka bean, vetiver and a touch of ylang ylang; “the vetiver makes it unisex,” Nicoara suggests. The range of complementary body washes are similarly scented, and certified by both EcoCert and Bio Cosmétique, the packaging is ingeniously engineered so as to be totally glueless. “It’s not even paper made from trees, it’s all hemp seed.”

For Him: A shaving set by Tadé, from France ($89) that comes with a presentation cake of traditional savon d’Alep (laurel and olive oil soap), astringent alum stick and a silver-plate boar brush. The line is a contemporary take on traditional Turkish bath, and each of the hammam-inspired skin care and grooming products is formulated with natural raw materials and free from synthetics.

Haute Hostess: Japanese hand towels in 100% organic cotton. The dyes are either vegetable, flower or tea (black and green) -dyed; others, in darkest grey, are charcoal-dyed (from $19 for a face cloth up to $98 for a bath sheet).

One for you, One for Me: From Clé des Champs, a spa range founded by a Chinese-medicine trained acupuncturist in Lyon, it uses active ingredients appropriate for each season. “Their Winter Face Serum is the best thing ever. It’s not cheap [$129] but it’s really, really nice.” Nicoara also recommends their body balm, for face, body and hair. “It’s 100% natural and the organics in it are high, again certified by both organizations, all with cold-pressed essential oils. That would be what I’d want under the tree.”

Just Cuz is an independent jewellery boutique in the Yonge and Eglinton area (2625 Yonge St., at Craighurst; their Facebook page is here). Bauble aficionado Licia Tobias, who co-owns the shop with her mother, gives us the lowdown on gifts with meaning, and what else is in store for last-minute shoppers this holiday season.

Greatest Hit: The Karma necklace by Dogeared has been the bestseller for 4 Christmases now; it comes in silver ($66) or gold vermeil ($76). It’s a very thin chain with a blank circle suspended in between, Tobias explains, but it’s full of meaning thanks to the accompanying message card that reads: ‘What goes around, comes around…wear your necklace as a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving.’ “It comes in 16′ and 18″ so I sell girls age 13 to women over 60,” she says, “because it sits in the perfect place on the neck and is also a celebrity fan favourite – one of the characters on The Good Wife wears it every single episode, in silver.”

Made in Canada:Pyrrha’s chain pendants, handmade from casting impressions of ancient and vintage wax seals ($140-$200). Each piece is handmade in Vancouver by designers Wade Pepin and Danielle Wilmore from reclaimed sterling silver, bronze or 14kt gold.

Meaningful Gift: A line of bracelets and necklaces from California in sterling silver, with accent of brass and leather, that have different quotes ($114-$126, pictured above). One inscription reads, “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

Sleeper Favourite: The Thomas Sabo charm club. “People go crazy for it, and my favourite is the new black woven bracelet with a freshwater pearl that you can add charms to. It’s a funkier, trendier take on the traditional charm bracelet.”

Girlfriend Gift: For a teenage boy to give, adorable sterling silver bracelets that spell out the word Love ($44) or initial necklaces, also in sterling, that come with either a peace sign or heart charm alongside the initial ($36-$39). Grown-up guys opt for semi-precious stone studded pieces by Israeli husband-and-wife jewellery designer label Michal Golan (earrings from $89, necklaces from $90-$192).

One for you, One for me: Tobias’ personal favourites in store are the sparkly shagreen bangles ($108). They have a magnetic closure (“they’re easy to put on”) and come in grey, red, tan or black and, she adds, great for layering with a watch.

Santa’s little helper: Everything in the store comes in a gift box, with complimentary gift wrapping that’s further garnished with a candy cane, and for the especially time-pressed, they’ve pre-wrapped the most popular gifts (see above) so those on a tight schedule can just grab and go.

Toronto’s own luxury handbag designer Jessica Jensen’s pop-up shop continues (inside Design Republic at 629 Queen St. W.), with many small leather accessories for under $50. There are also unlined, simple-as-can-be City Shopper totes ($298) in matte leather or patent, and handbags in full-grain Italian leather.

In the Manifesto offices (at 37 Bulwer St. one Queen St. W., between Soho and Spadina) you’ll find The Glory Box pop-up, which contains clothing, housewares and children’s brands all up to 75% off – brands include Le Creuset, Staub, Breville and Pottery Barn Kids, Tiger, Twenty8Twelve, Velvet, even some Versace, they say. Today and Sunday, 10am-6pm.

For those more art inclined this holiday season, Ross Bonfanti, Sandra Tarantino and the gang from his former C1 Art Space are having a pop-up this weekend only called The Shelf Project (at 132 Ossington Ave., next to Jaiden’s Petals florist). They’re clearing out stock of studio art, sculptures, quirky crafts and even some apparel. Ends Sunday at 5pm.

The Monkey’s Paw (at 1229 Dundas St. W.), a favourite supplier of bibliophilic oddities and curiosities for all and sundry, have extended holiday hours all week, from 11am-7pm. Need inspiration? Browse their Christmas Catalogue’s Recommended Miscellany online.

The Bustle Clothing menswear and accessories pop-up in Yorkville (at 162 Cumberland St.) is presented by Mastercard and for shoppers who swipe that particular card on purchases get an additional 20% off both regular and sale-priced merchandise.

Retail Therapy advocates shopping locally and from now until Christmas, we’ll be dropping by different retailers around the GTA to get gift suggestions and find out what’s in store. Today’s visit? Saltridges, an independent shop in Burlington (at 389 Brant St.) that carries cool pyjamas, loungewear, upscale skin care brands, grooming essentials and niche perfume. Owner Nancy Salter tells us about what’s popular at her Brant Street boutique this holiday season.

Greatest Hit:Gin Fizz ($165) from Parfums Lubin Paris, one of the oldest perfume houses in the world (it dates back to the Napoleonic era). That pedigree is not why Gin Fizz is flying off the shelf, however; it’s that it is the sparkly white floral perfume created in 1955 for Grace Kelly by perfumer Henri Giboulet, a tribute to the Hollywood superstar’s Oscar win for The Country Girl. It’s named after the popular American-in-Paris cocktail of the day; the scent was revived by the house a few years ago. “I think people like the history of it – that there’s a story being told.” A bottle, paired with tickets to see the Grace Kelly exhibition at Bell Lightbox or a classic Alfred Hitchcock Kelly DVD, would make a romantic gift. I think there’s so much junky, duty-free-shop kind of perfume that people who are really into perfume are trying to avoid that. They don’t want to wear a Britney Spears or a Jennifer Aniston,” she says. Similarly, Lubin’s chypre scent Black Jade ($170) is inspired by Marie Antoinette’s rose garden at Le Petit Trianon.

Niche perfume: In addition to Lubin, Saltridges stocks other hard-to-find perfume houses such as Tauer, Parfums d’Orsay, Claudie Pierlot, Juliette has a Gun and Ineke, the alphabetically-named brand of Canadian-born, San-Francisco based Ineke Rühland. “Perfume people love it, people love it like they collection wine. Mostly everything I have here is niche,” Salter says. “Women want value – that’s what I feel about trying to find product that is interesting. But,” she adds, “just for the sake of a big price tag, just to say it’s exclusive? I’m not into that.”

Girlfriend Gift: A sample pack of Ineke fragrances ($30). “The set has one of each [perfume], so they can try them, and people often buy a gift certificate so that she can come back to buy a full size of the one she likes.”

Sleeper Favourite: GlamGlow from L.A. ($78 for 50ml), created by a husband and wife team “who get people red-carpet ready.” Salter says that the 10-minute anti-aging facial in a jar – a masque that has volcanic rock, French sea clay and green tea leaf pieces – is very active on the skin and that while results may be temporary, they are immediate. “My dad is 82 and can’t see very well and he’s sick and I was trying his product and sitting by his bedside and he told me my skin looked incredible!”

One for you, One for me: Salter’s favourite item is the cult-following Rodin face oil, Olio Lusso ($160) or for the Canadian winters, the body oil ($115). Saltridges regularly ships orders of the Olio all over Canada.

Index, $20 A fine way to keep the Dostoevskys from mingling with the Eliots are Japan design firm Plus D’s indexes in the shape of animals. The giraffe, pig or reindeer look whimsical popping from a book shelf, at Cubeshops (cubeshops.com).

Related

Matches, from $6.50 Dippylulu’s novelty matchboxes, Literary Lites, are modelled after classic book covers, with a coy twist on the titles — The Great Gasby, anyone? — and arrive in a gift box ready to slip into a librarian’s stocking, at Etsy (dippylulu.com).

Stoneware, from $25 Bring Saint Nick to the table in simple sculptural relief with the modern Santa Collection in matte stoneware. The complete set includes a mug, pitcher, cookie jar and salt and pepper shakers, at West Elm (westelm.com).

Bowl, $130 The rose, symbol of femininity, grace and love, is transformed into a perforated stainless steel fruit holder by designer Emma Silvestris and varnished in vibrant magenta, at Alessi (alessi.com).

Nutcracker, $34.50 The turn-style design of Blomus’ fetching contemporary nutcracker makes smashing walnuts a thing of beauty during the holidays, at Indigo and Chapters (indigo.ca).

Mugs, $13 There are numerous ways to select one of Takuya Hoshiko’s quirky number cups; a favourite digit or anniversary date? From the art-gallery-esque Cubeshops on Baldwin Street (cubeshops.com).

Card, $5 Wendy Tancock’s hot-selling red rocket Christmas cards are part of her Canadian series, which trumpet poutine, the Leafs/Habs rivalry, Leonard Cohen and the like; all nice enough to frame, at various retailers: Valhalla, Outer Layer and Labour of Love (wendytancockdesign.blogspot.com).

Art, $30 Michelle Matsui, under her design house Kempton Jones, handcrafts plush Owlies of Ontario named after small towns (this fella’s Duntroon), and are gifts the hostess will actually like; equally sweet in a child’s room, at The Drake General Store (drakegeneralstore.ca or kemptonjones.com).

Objet, $14 Watch the new Tintin movie, then take home the pie-eyed PVC version of the character. Two-inch sitting Tintin stands at nearly four inches and is one of 14 collectibles from Moulinsart; larger resin figures are also available at Studio Brillantine (studiobrillantine.com).

Bottles, from $29 Vintage mercury bottles have a silver finish that casts the prettiest glow when lit up with tealights, from Christine Flynn’s fantastically eclectic east-end shop Love the Design (lovethedesign.com).

A museum-quality stainless steel Elephant bottle opener by Jorgen Moller for Georg Jensen ($51) is also ergonomic. The Elephant series includes other items such as the beautiful “piggy” bank ($123). Torp Inc., torpinc.com.

“Muddlers” inspired by classic Danish barware of the 1950s are used for releasing flavours and essential oils from ingredients used in mixed drinks. Priced according to colour. Mjölk, mjolk.ca.

With its sensual, polished steel lines and exaggerated lip, the Masterpiece HK pitcher was one of Danish designer Henning Koppel’s most iconic designs for Georg Jensen in the early ’50s, and has recently been reintroduced. $545. Bergo Designs, bergo.ca.

Related

The Bulky porcelain tea set, designed by Jonas Wagell for Muuto, feature rounded lines for a look that’s whimsical and sophisticated. Pieces are individually priced from $45-$109. Torp Inc., torpinc.com.

Muuto’s wooden kitchen utensils sit on the rim of your pot while cooking, preventing drips on the counter. They also double as salad servers. $49. Torp Inc., torpinc.com.

Playsam’s red lacquered wood plane won Sweden’s top award for excellence in design when it was first introduced. Display it in a home office or a child’s room. $79. Bergo Designs, bergo.ca.

Designed by Lovisa Watmann, this concrete shaving kit includes a soft concrete dish, a badger-hair and beech shaving brush and soap. $98. Mjölk, mjolk.ca.

Danish designer Kristian Vedel’s iconic birds first appeared in 1959, and became the most successful wood products from Denmark of the ’50s. These reproductions make adorable gifts. Priced by size. Mjölk, mjolk.ca.

Not sure what to get that special someone on your list? Stumped by the office Secret Santa? Completely at a loss when it comes to shopping for your techy new inlaws? Have we got a solution for you! Style editor Nathalie Atkinson, FP Tech Desk editor Matt Hartley and Happy Hour columnist Adam McDowell on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m for a chat, where each of them answered your trickiest holiday shopping questions live! Couldn’t join us? Tweet your toughest gift quandaries using the hashtag #npgiftguide and we’ll be sure to send you a shopping solution!

Literary lover on your gift list? Choose a present that spells out their passion in black and white. From Jane Austen to Jack Kerouac, these seven pieces fancifully feature text from a novel — happy endings for all.

Father’s Day is June 19, and if your pa is like most, he probably likes to dip into the strong brew now and again. What, you want him to concoct a Don Draper stiff one in that old shaker?

Home Outfitters has just launched a crafty four-piece stackable Bar Tower, pictured, designed by Magppie that looks like a pylon. At 54 centimetres high when assembled, it will make a cool and very practical sculpture on his bar. Comprised of wine cooler, ice bucket (with lid), cocktail shaker (with sieve) and serving tray, the Bar Tower, $130, is made of high-quality stainless steel. The bar tray is on the bottom, followed by the ice bucket, the wine cooler and topped with the shaker.

If your dad is more of a java guy, Home Outfitters’ Nespresso Citiz $370 coffee maker has a sleek design. It uses premeasured capsules and includes a “milk brother” to create steamed or frothed milk.

Mississauga council members have received gifts ranging from a $12 bottle of wine to a $12,000 necklace in the five months since the city enacted regulations on gifts, according to statements filed recently with the city’s integrity commissioner.

And even after controversy over the city manager’s offer to buy tickets for all councillors to the Mayor’s 90th birthday gala, Enersource, the city-owned energy corporation, footed the bill for three members to attend the lavish February bash.

The statements filed with integrity commissioner George Rust-D’Eye cover gifts received between December and April. This was the first time Mississauga councillors have had to report on gifts after a wide-ranging code of conduct came into effect late last year; it will henceforth be a quarterly task.

Already, there appears to be confusion over the reporting requirements, with some councillors disclosing every token gift received — such as Councillor Katie Mahoney’s $12 bottle of Christmas wine and Councillor Pat Mullin’s $25 cosmetics kit from Mary Kay — and others, including the Mayor, listing only gifts totalling more than $500 from a single source.

“It is very clear and was spelled out to council several times by the integrity commissioner that gifts [less than $500] are not to be included in the statement,” Councillor Pat Saito said, adding she keeps a personal list to monitor all gifts and ensure compliance with the single-source rule. “It is a very short list.”

Councillor Sue McFadden, however, said the policy is “very clear” that all gifts must be listed, whether priced at $20 or $2,000.

The discrepancy may stem from a semantic issue: While the code of conduct only asks councillors to list gifts totalling more than $500 from a single source, the quarterly reporting form does not state a limit, requesting a list of “every fee, advance, cash, gift, gift certificate, personal benefit, price reduction and other consideration… connected directly or indirectly with the performance of my duties of office as a member of council.”

Mr. Rust-D’Eye was not available to clarify the intent, but in a memo included on Wednesday’s council agenda, he said he had received the necessary information from all councillors.

Similar regulations exist in neighbouring Toronto, where gifts from a single source worth more than $300 must be disclosed to that city’s integrity commissioner, who can then determine whether it represents a conflict of interest. For the most part, Toronto councillors are prohibited from accepting gifts over $500 from one source in one year.

Among Mayor Hazel McCallion’s recent haul was a $12,000 custom-made necklace from Lorne Park Jewellers and two tickets to China from Hainan Airlines, both given on her 90th birthday. The tickets, valued at $6,000, were subsequently donated to the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation.

Vanig Jelilian, who owns Lorne Park Jewellers, said he was under the impression the necklace was to be donated to the local museum along with the rest of Ms. McCallion’s birthday gifts. The Mayor’s office did not respond to a series of inquiries on the topic.

“I respect her. She’s a lady with a lot of devotion to the city and she has done a lot for the city,” Mr. Jelilian said, noting the 18-carat gold, pearl, diamond and amethyst necklace was designed specially for the Mayor.

Meanwhile, Councillors Mahoney, Saito and Ron Starr — who are all on the Enersource board of directors — each received from the energy corporation a ticket to Ms. McCallion’s February birthday gala at $350 apiece. Ms. Saito was given two.

The City of Mississauga, which owns 90% of Enersource, had previously offered to send all councillors to the Mayor’s birthday party on the taxpayers’ dime, but retracted the offer amid public criticism. Ms. Saito said she does not view this as a similar misuse of city revenues since the city does not run Enersource.